GAME NIGHT: The Carolina Hurricanes play the first half of back-to-back games Thursday as they travel to the Nation’s capital to take on the Washington Capitals in the first meeting of the season between the Southeast Division rivals. Then Carolina returns home to take on the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks Friday night at the Entertainment & Sports Arena.

CAROLINA NOTES: The Hurricanes hold a seven-point lead over Washington, although the Capitals have two games in hand. Carolina has played a league-high 12 home games and is tied for the fewest road games with five. Carolina will be playing the fourth of 15 sets of back-to-back games. The Hurricanes are 2-3-0-1 in back-to-back games this season, with a 0-3-0-0 record in the first game and 2-0-0-1 mark in the second. Through games of Nov. 6, Jeff O’Neill was second in the NHL in scoring with 19 points and tied for second in goal scoring (11). O’Neill was also second in the league in shots on goal with 74, one behind Washington’s Peter Bondra. Ron Francis was tied for fourth in the league in scoring with 17 points and tied for first in assists with 14. Sami Kapanen and Josef Vasicek are tied for second in the league in game-winning goals with three apiece.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 6-4-1-1CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 2-2-0-1CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 8-of-89 (9.0%) CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 75-of-90 (83.3%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE: The Hurricanes have no injuries to report

CAROLINA / WASHINGTON SERIES: The Capitals and the Hurricanes meet for the first of five matchups this season and the first of three at MCI Center. Washington and Carolina split the season series last year 2-2-1. Sami Kapanen (3g, 4a) led all scorers in last year’s season series with seven points (3g, 4a) in five games. Carolina was 1-1 at the MCI Center, defeating Washington 3-0 on March 15 and falling 7-0 on March 28. Carolina was 1-1-1 at home as Rod Brind’Amour notched an overtime goal to give Carolina its lone win at home on March 30, 4-3. The Hurricanes and Capitals played to a 3-3 tie in the Hurricanes’ 2000-01 season opener on Oct. 7 and the Capitals defeated the Hurricanes 2-1 on Feb. 24. The Hurricanes are 26-43-11-0 all-time against the Capitals, 12-24-3-0 on the road.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES: Washington has played a league-low four home games compared to the Hurricanes, who have played a league-high 12 home games. Washington is winless in its last five games (0-4-1-0) and have won just once in its last eight (1-5-2-0). Right winger Peter Bondra leads the league in power play goals (7) and shots on goal (75). Defenseman Sergei Gonchar is tied for second among defensemen scorers (13). Washington has the league’s fourth best power play at 20.8 percent (16-of-77) and 26th best penalty (78.9 percent). Jaromir Jagr is out of the lineup with a knee injury.

CAROLINA / SAN JOSE SERIES The Carolina Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks meet for the only time at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. The teams will play again in San Jose on Feb. 10, the final game before the NHL shuts down for the Winter Olympics. Last season the Sharks won both meetings against Carolina by a combined 7-3 score and have won three straight in the series. Carolina trails the all-time series 8-10-0-0, including a 4-5-0-0 home mark.

SAN JOSE SHARKS NOTES: The Sharks have won five straight games heading into Wednesday night’s ESPN game in Dallas. Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, last year’s Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year, is second in the league with two shutouts. The Sharks have the league’s ninth best power play at 17.3 percent (14-of-81) and the third best penalty kill at 91.1 percent.